Bluegrass Diamonds

By Mel Laurila

There is a SECRET to the success of the Blue Diamond horse farm:

Some people will do just about anything to find out what it is.

"Diamond Jim" Taylor is living the dream. He is a successful entrepreneur who has taken an idea from concept to commercialization and licensed his x-ray borehole analyzer to an instrumentation company that pays him subs

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bluegrass Publishing
• Release date: Jul 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9780692425619

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

James Taylor is not a good singer, at least not this particular James Taylor. However, he just might be the world’s best alchemist. Not because he can turn lead into gold. His feats, known only in certain circles, are much more impressive. Diamond Jim can make synthetic diamonds that are indistinguishable from the rare, natural colored stones by understanding, deconstructing and reconstructing matter at the molecular level. Such knowledge is…priceless.

So when the alarm for the security system at his horse farm on the outskirts of Lexington, Kentucky, went off, Jim took it seriously. He began to make his way from his library to his safe room but then stopped. Instead, he opened his gun safe and inserted a 7-round magazine of hollow points into a Kahr PM9 with tritium night sights and subcompact laser, chambering the first round. Glancing at the system monitoring screen, he saw the intruder enter the stable right through the front door.

Kinda ballsy of him, Jim muttered to himself. He pressed the touch screen to activate the two- way radio with his night watchman. Hey, Frank, you out there?’ No response. Frank, come in. We’ve got somebody on the property." Still nothing.

Jim thought through his options. The intruder has to be on foot. Nothing has come through the front or rear gates. Whoever it is must have gotten under the motion sensors around the perimeter. Oh well, if you want something done right, you’ve got to do it yourself.

Jogging along the edge of the road behind the line of ornamental pear and cherry trees between the main residence and the stallion barn, Jim covered the quarter mile in about three minutes. One of the horses in the barn would have run it in less than thirty seconds. He slowed to a walk and approached the closed red oak front doors. Trying the handle he found it unlocked. Holding the gun in the firing position with his index finger next to the trigger guard, he quietly opened the door. Frank was lying unconscious in a pool of blood at the other end of the entrance hall.

Kneeling beside him, Jim felt Frank’s neck for a pulse. Frank was out cold but still alive. From the corner of his eye he caught a quick motion, heard a horse whinny, and saw a horse and rider gallop though the rotunda in the center of the stable toward the back door. Running through the second set of entrance doors, he drew a bead on the rider, saw the laser on the thief’s back for a split second, and fired.

Lowering the gun, he watched the darkness envelope the silhouette of the fast moving horse with the rider still mounted. Damn, I could have killed the horse, he chided himself, realizing he’d just shot at more than three million dollars’ worth of stud fees. More alarms went off one as the intruders forced open the back gate to the paddocks where horses were often loaded or unloaded. Jim started to run in that direction hoping he could catch the thieves before they loaded the horse Then, remembering Frank, he stopped, pulled out his cell phone, and dialed 911.

CHAPTER 2

Frank had disappeared behind the doors into the examining rooms at the Emergency Department almost an hour before two plainclothes detectives from the Lexington Police showed up to talk with Jim. The waiting room was empty except for a couple huddled in the corner whispering about how it wasn’t his fault. Jim was just sitting there in a daze; his eyes open only because he had consumed three cups of bad coffee from the machine on the snack counter.

James Taylor? the male detective asked as he made eye contact after walking into the waiting room. This caused the other couple in the waiting room to eye Jim over, trying to decide if he was the James Taylor. One look and it was obvious he wasn’t the famous singer. Jim was a good fifteen years younger, fifty pounds heavier, and had a full head of dark brown hair.

Yes, acknowledged Jim.

I’m detective Marv Koski and this is my partner, Mary LaRock. The tall guy with the graying hair and mustache held out his credentials as did the younger woman with reddish brown, shoulder-length hair.

Jim examined their badges for a moment and asked, You’re not from around here, are you?

No, not originally, said LaRock, but we’re the ones who are supposed to be asking questions.

Ignoring her bluntness and noticing the faint lilt in her voice, Jim said, Irish Catholic from South Boston, right?

Dorchester, now Mr. Taylor, can we get on with it?

Thought so. I guess your husband must be French, Jim smiled, ignoring LaRock bristling at Jim’s instant assumption that if she was from Boston she had to be Irish."

Turning to face Detective Koski, Jim held up one finger so he would let him finish his analysis, Upper Midwest, Green Bay, right? Koski looked Jim in the eye. Rhinelander, This time Koski held up his index finger so Jim would not respond. If you pull any more stunts like you did tonight it won’t matter where you’re from, you’ll be dead. Leave the hunting to the professionals. What’s the point in having a safe room if you’re not going to use it?

Because if I did, Frank might not be alive and the intruder wouldn’t be wounded.

How do you know you hit him?

I’m a good shot. Besides, I heard him scream out in pain. The hollow point would have torn up his shoulder pretty bad.

But he managed to stay on. Now Diamond in the Rough is missing, but not for long.

What do you mean? asked Koski

I mean I called my Farm Manager after I got here. Jessica’s tracking the horse now.

There’s no good tracking snow in Lexington, Kentucky in September, Koski said sarcastically, confirming his Wisconsin roots.

Global Positioning System, GPS, on a microchip embedded in the horse’s neck. It can even tell us how fast he’s running during a workout. Detective LaRock pulled out her notebook now that they had finally gotten to the details of the case.

No kidding? Next they’ll be installing navigation systems on horses.

Fed up with Koski’s light tone, Detective LaRock inserted herself into the conversation. So where’s Diamond in the Rough now?

Last time we checked he was on I-75 almost to Cincinnati.

So did you call the Ohio state police?

Why?

To get your horse back. LaRock threw her hands up in exasperation.

I don’t want him back. Not yet. I want to know where he’s going.

Before that, we have a few questions that need to be answered first, said LaRock.

No one noticed the physician standing in the door behind them until he cleared his throat. Mr. Taylor?

Jim spun around. That’s me.

The doctor dressed in scrubs walked over to Jim and said in a measured tone, I’m Dr. Prinzing. We’ve been able to stabilize Mr. Phillips. He is out of ER and into recovery now.

Is he going to be OK?

The doctor looked at Jim, unsure about how to answer the question. Does he have any family members nearby?

Not really. His ex-wife lives in Florida and his daughter is in Paris.

Paris, Kentucky?

Je crains de ne pas, said Jim.

Does that mean, no?

I’m afraid not.

Then it doesn’t mean no?

Sorry, it means, I’m afraid not.

So she lives in Paris, France.

Oui. I mean yes, said Jim. I’m sorry, it’s just that when I saw him lying there in the stallion barn, I really thought he was dead. It’s one of those things that if you don’t try to add a little levity, you will cry. He has no family nearby, just me. So Dr. Prinzing, is he going to be okay?

Well, since there are no family members here I suppose I can give you some general information. He’s suffered trauma to the skull. In addition, he lost a lot of blood before the EMTs got there. It looks like the intruder tried to tase him and when that didn’t work used a blunt object to knock him out.

So when can we see him? asked Jim.

When he regains consciousness it might be possible, but I can’t predict when that will be.

Can he answer a couple of questions for us? LaRock asked.

Not right now. When he does regain consciousness, maybe. He might not remember anything. These head injuries are tricky. Don’t get him upset.

Thanks, Doc.

After taking a few minutes to get a fresh cup of coffee, Jim returned to the waiting room to find the two detectives in one corner deep in conversation. He checked his watch. It was 2:30 AM and he was starting to feel tired now that the adrenaline and caffeine were wearing off. He took a seat opposite Koski and LaRock.

Just need to ask. Koski began once he finished the conversation with his partner.

Mr. Taylor, called a nurse from the door way. I’ll show you to Mr. Phillip’s bed.

Jim got up to follow the nurse with Koski and LaRock close behind. Nurse Ratched gave the detectives the evil eye. "I’m sorry, we do not permit more than two people at a time into the CCU. Prepared, the detectives simultaneously flashed their badges.

We just need to ask. . . . The nurse reluctantly stepped aside to allow the detectives to follow Jim into Frank’s room.

Okay, but only a couple, and then my patient needs some rest. Her disapproving posture signaled that she didn’t intend to allow anyone to remain in the room long.

Frank’s head was swathed with bandages. A small patch on his neck marked where he had been tased. He was a big man who filled most of the hospital bed. An ex-cop, Frank had come out of retirement to work for Blue Diamond Farm. He smiled weakly as the owner entered the room.

How you feeling? asked Jim.

Like I fell out of the electric chair on my head.

Ouch. Looks like you were whacked pretty good. Jim turned to the two detectives.

Frank, this is Detective Marv Koski and Detective Mary LaRock with the Lexington PD. They want to ask you a couple of questions.

Sure.

Mr. Phillips, thanks for talking with us. We just need a little information from you that might help our investigation of this theft. Can you tell us what happened? Koski asked.

I had just gotten on shift and was sitting down at the entrance desk in the stallion barn when I noticed an alarm flashing on the system. I looked at it, it said the front door was open, and when I started to get up to go check it, the guy tased me from across the room. Knocked me right out of my chair before I could do anything. Frank grimaced in pain Oh, God, did that hurt.

Did you recognize him?

I hardly got a look at him because when he zapped me all I saw was stars.

Did he say anything to you?

Nope.

Are you sure it was a man?

Pretty sure. Seemed too big for a woman.

Detective, Jim interjected. It was definitely a man. I saw him on the security monitor in the house. We’ve got a pretty sophisticated security system at Blue Diamond Farm.

Turning to Jim, Koski asked, How much time do you think elapsed before you got to the barn?

It couldn’t have been more than five or six minutes.

That’s not much time to steal a race horse.

No, it isn’t, but this guy knew what he was doing. He had to know the layout of the barn. He could not have been in the Stallion Barn without knowing something about the security system and practices. I saw him walk right in the front door. Could hardly believe what I was watching.

We’ll want to see the DVR file as well. Could he have been after anything else? asked Koski.

In a stallion barn? There’s a few million dollars’ worth of horse flesh there. What else would they want?

Speaking of which, Koski turned to Jim and asked, Where is Diamond in the Rough now?

I don’t know, but let’s find out.

Jim pulled out his cell phone and called his farm manager again. After listening for a minute, he turned to the detectives. The signal is no longer moving. Looks like they’ve stopped up in Hebron by the Cincinnati airport. After entering some information in his phone, Jim said, Here are the coordinates and possible address. If you give me one of your phone numbers, I’ll text it to you. Looks like you guys should get someone out there quickly. They may be looking to load him on an airplane.

Koski and LaRock looked at each other and then at Frank, who had fallen back asleep. A glare from the nurse over in the corner told them they were about to be ejected from the CCU. We’ll let you know what we find, Koski said on the way out the door.

Jim looked down at Frank to bid him good-bye when Frank opened his eyes. Are they gone?

Surprised Frank had been faking sleep, Jim replied, Yeah.

Frank cocked his head signaling Jim to lean closer. "The goon that attacked me was German. When he didn’t completely disable me with the taser, I heard him mutter, ‘Scheisse’."

CHAPTER 3

Albert Stein was no genius, even though at one time his family name was the same as the developer of the theory of relativity and his disheveled looks resembled those of the famous scientist. However, what he lacked in IQ was more than compensated by his shrewdness. Albert loved a good scheme, especially if he could steal something of real value.

The call came as expected. Mission accomplished. The Virtual Private Network software and spyware were successfully loaded on the server and Diamond in the Rough is en route. One complication. Günther was wounded while escaping. The vet sewed him up before he removed the chip from the horse.

That’s good. Is Günther going to be okay? asked Albert.

The bullet tore up his shoulder pretty good but it didn’t hit any vital organs or break any bones. He’s going to need some time to recover.

Set him up in a townhouse in Lexington for a while. I could use a man on the ground there in case we need to do something more. This way, if he needs further treatment he can always go back to Doctor Snyder for a follow-up

I’ll take care of it.

Thank you. Call me when all the arrangements are complete.

Without waiting for a response, Albert hung up the phone and picked up his morning coffee. There was a six-hour time difference between Lexington, Kentucky, and Baden Baden, Germany, and he had things to do. Getting up from the kitchen table, he put on his jacket and headed out the door. For the beginning of September the morning air was cool and he sipped his steaming coffee as he headed down the street to his office and laboratory. He’d stop at the local bakery on the bottom of the hill and buy some fresh apple strudel and then make a fresh pot of coffee at the office.

When he got to 666 Ein stolzer Preis, he was surprised to see his wife, Katerina, waiting in his office with fresh brewed coffee already poured. Albert had always liked the ominous address. It kept unwelcome visitors away.

I thought you were still in bed, he said. Katerina didn’t look as though she had just gotten up. Her long dark hair was pulled up in a French braid and tucked under her straw gardening hat. In fact, the lotion she was wearing made her smell like fresh flowers.

I was, but my curiosity got the best of me so I drove down after I heard you leave. So, tell me. What happened?

I’ll do better than that, I’ll show you. He set down his coffee cup down and moved his laptop computer to the table where they were having their coffee. Albert loaded the VPN software and entered the Internet Protocol address his guys had sent him via SMS. In a matter of seconds they were connected to Diamond Jim’s server in the lab under the stallion barn. Scanning the file directories Albert quickly found one labeled Patent Information and began a download.

This, my dear, should tell us what tricks old Jim has been up to since he dissolved our little joint venture last year. The Americans like to say, ‘keep your friends close and your enemies closer.’ You can’t get any closer than this.

Kat put her arms around his neck and let out that wicked little laugh Albert loved so much. She couldn’t be happier to be back in the game while holding an upper hand.

CHAPTER 4

It was after 4:00 AM when Jim finally got back to Blue Diamond, his 650-acre horse farm. He drove past the main residence designed to resemble a French chateau. The imposing structure overlooked the entire property. Having bought the farm eight years earlier from a famous movie actor who fancied himself a horseman, had way too much money to spend and loved French wines, Jim had used the profits from his previous successful business ventures to snatch the property at a bargain when the housing market crashed and no one was spending $6 million on a horse farm. The previous owner never did finish the place as he had planned. ‘Maybe someday I will plant that vineyard inside the practice track’, thought Jim. He shook his head to clear the